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Sunday, January 25, 2009

I can remember when I was hired to do the job I am currently now doing. They were eager to fill the position because the lady who was currently doing it would be leaving in 2 weeks, not a day sooner nor later. She had 2 weeks to teach me something she had only been working on a few months. When all things were considered, especially how much time she didn't spend at work, she'd really only been working there consistently for a month. I was learning the ins and outs of my company from someone who had only REALLY been there, a month.

When I found this out, I should have ran....like Forrest. Did I? No, I thought it was REALLY no big deal; everything seemed pretty self-explanatory. That is until I figured out and it was QUICKLY revealed to me that I would be cleaning up a mess that was created by 3 different people because they were all doing their job incorrectly. How many years were put into them effing up the system? I'd say, collectively somewhere between 3 and 6 years.

So, if it took 3-6 years to mess something up, why would anyone in their right mind think that it would be fixed overnight? And when it doesn't get fixed IMMEDIATELY, do you, as an Owner, have a right to be mad at the new person who was brought in under these circumstances? I'm going to say no, the Owner has no right to get upset at something that might very well take the same amount of time to fix as it did to f*ck it up. Patience is the key here because if I don't fix it, who will? It will be a tedious process started all over with someone new when you can just let me fix it and make sure it doesn't get messed up again.

Sounds reasonable, right? I always believed it did.

So...how many people actually expect ALL problems that Bush perpetuated to be fixed in one term? Even two terms? I'm not the idiot to think EVERYTHING is going to be hunkydory after two terms. I'll explain why.

The problem with cleaning up other people's mess is that while you are cleaning it up, you have to find a better way to get everything done so the same mistakes don't happen again. Your plan must be put into action and then others must be in agreement with your new plan of keeping things running smoothly. All it takes is one person who is not so willing to follow what you've implemented and you are essentially back at square one. Any resistance in your plan and it causes a little crumble here and there...which inevitably makes your job harder.

Back to my job...everything would and could run smoothly IF the people who own the company followed certain checks and balances and stopped viewing them as something that is easily done. This is the problem most people who have to clean up other people's mess run into...other people who don't have to clean up the mess thinking that it is an easy process and can be done in little to no time. The stress alone makes it a difficult job but I have realized that until someone is doing your job, they will always think it is something that can be done in the blink of an eye...especially if they've NEVER had to do your SPECIFIC load of work.

Back to the new president...my sincerest hope is that people take this into consideration as the years fly by and they see that it is still a process that is going to take time. There are checks and balances that have to be agreed upon and then a process that has to continue to be implemented. If we (the people) are fair in our expectations, we will realize that if BIG CHANGES are made all across the board IMMEDIATELY, count that as a blessing. It shouldn't be something we demand in a short period of time. If it takes him two terms (assuming he gets re-elected in 2012) to accomplish it, then he's STILL done it in record time. If it takes two terms and then electing someone who continues to implement his process and if everything that was "broken", gets fixed in the 13th hour, then that was a job well done.

I can only hope the American people are as reasonable in their views on the process taking time to get things to a tolerable level for everyone...otherwise, I am sure everyone will hear the naysayers & complainers more sooner than later.

15
points of view:

This is exactly why I fear for Obama and the onset of plunging approval rating because people are expecting fast results to problems that need a great day time and patience to effectively combat

time and patience...

I think back to the Civil Rights Movement and how many people worked so hard for change that some didn't even get to see come to fruition in their lifetime....that patience seems undoubtedly lost today

As I digress...

I hope Obama can see it through the storm..because it can it will get ugly

@ the YOUNG LIONESS: that's my only concern with Obama is that he is able to get a fair run at this job...it's a big job and regardless of religious or political affilation, everyone should be able to recognize that. I believe the difference with the era of when the Civil Rights Movement came to fruition and today is that people were more intuitive to being patient. We live in a society that is all about how quickly you can get something and/or get something done...unfortunately we have evolved into a society that fixates more so on quantity than quality...I seriously hope that some of us who were raised by those who were around when we were fighting for our rights can shine through and rub some of that patient understanding off on the part of our generation who isn't too eager to wait things out...as well as those who are doubtful and waiting for it to all come crashing down.

This was an excellent post! They are already concocting ignorant stories about how long it'll take him to clean up the economic crisis and if he doesn't do it will people think its because he's black. I am of the opinion that there are many people that are completely oblivious to the fact that it takes time to clean up a mess while trying to implement change in a place that has been so complacent in unorganized chaos. I really believe that he is going to do well because he knows how to strategically place and befriend his enemies and keep his frenemies close to him.

I agree with Jay: He gonna need TWO miracles, but as a human I certainly hope he can bring a measure of success to honest, struggling people. But I don't necessarily see a precedent for affording him a lot of patience. Most presidents are hated within the first year. Perhaps this could be different.

@ Torrance Stephens: I would feel the same way if McCain had been elected. I feel whoever the president is, they should be given ample time to clean up the mess before everyone starts wanting to throw them under the bus because they aren't moving fast enough, in their opinion. As far as Obama making a mess, he hasn't been in office long enough to be a contributing factor to the mess we are in so I wouldn't say he helped create any of this. If after 4 years there isn't one change, then I would be skeptical but still...it takes the same amount of time or sometimes longer to fix problems other people made. Change is a constant process, not something that is easily fixed overnight...or in 4 years for that matter :)

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. This was a great post. I agree 100% I think he is very capable, and if anyone can handle the burdens of politics he can. However, he has a long road ahead of him. I send one up for every night.

He's gotta alot of work ahead and he needs to makes sure the people understand that but he also needs to make sure that the people feel that he's with them and working for them. If he's working and sweating and then says that that the people need to help to sacafice they will.

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About Me

I'm a wordy, sarcastic, reasonable kind of woman. Big on thinking and all the other great attributes that manifest themselves as a result of being a brain (read: nerd @ heart). Considered a weirdo by some but last I checked most memorable people are...weirdos.